Islamic Courts Union

The Islamic Courts Union was a group of sharia courts that claimed control over Somalia's government in 2006, rivalling the West-backed Transitional Federal Government. Led by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the ICU was a powerful Islamist faction, and it once ruled even the capital of Mogadishu. The ICU's strength led to Kenyan and Ethiopian troops being sent to Somalia, and the ICU was defeated. Hardline Islamists broke ranks with the ICU after the fall of Kismayo on 1 January 2007, forming al-Shabaab, Hizbul Islam, and other new terrorist groups.